Guy Mercer will make his first start for Bath Rugby since October after being named in the XV to face Exeter Chiefs in the LV= Cup semi-finals at The Rec on Sunday (1pm).

Mercer is joined in the back-row by the returning Matt Garvey and number eight Leroy Houston. Ryan Caldwell joins captain Stuart Hooper in the engine room, with hooker Eusebio Guinazu flanked by Nathan Catt and Argentina international colleague Juan Pablo Orlandi.

Martin Roberts and Tom Heathcote resume their partnership in the half-backs, while Ollie Devoto – nominated for this year’s LV= Breakthrough Player award – combines with Gavin Henson in midfield. Horacio Agulla and Semesa Rokoduguni are named on the wings and Nick Abendanon completes the line-up at fullback.

Chiefs have named a near full-strength line-up for the contest. Tom Johnson’s England selection means Dave Ewers is shunted to blindside, while Kai Horstmann anchors the scrum. There is a first start since January for Chris Whitehead, who takes over at hooker. The back division remains untouched from last Saturday’s Aviva Premiership win over London Irish.